Hello Mama,

Welcome to Made To Lactate.

I’m Sjanelle Bottger, founder of Made To Lactate, a breastfeeding mother of two, and a Certified Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor.

Before Made To Lactate became a brand, it was simply a dream born from one of the hardest seasons of my life.

In 2020, during the height of lockdown, I was pregnant with my first baby while separated from my husband for 11 months because of Covid restrictions. More than 10,000 km stood between us. He missed scans, milestones, appointments, and eventually even the birth of our son.

Giving birth without my husband by my side was heartbreaking. I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, and completely alone. All I wanted was to breastfeed my baby successfully, but my journey did not begin the way I had imagined it would.

I struggled deeply with breastfeeding in those early weeks. I remember the guilt, the pressure, and the feeling that my body was somehow failing my baby. I supplemented with formula while desperately trying to increase my supply, and even though I know now that feeding your baby is what matters most, the emotional weight of that season stayed with me for a very long time.

With the support of a lactation consultant, I began expressing every two hours around the clock. I spent hours doing skin to skin, learning about latch, understanding milk removal, and trying every possible way to support my breastfeeding journey. Slowly, things began to change. My supply increased, my confidence grew, and eventually I was able to exclusively breastfeed my little boy.

But behind the scenes, I was struggling emotionally.

I developed severe postpartum depression and PTSD after my traumatic birth experience. Breastfeeding became one of the few things that grounded me during that season. It gave me purpose, connection, and moments of peace when everything else felt heavy. Through counselling and support, I slowly began healing, and during that journey I realised something incredibly important.

No mother should ever feel alone.

When I eventually returned to South Africa, I quickly noticed how limited the options were for breastfeeding mothers. I struggled to find lactation products that felt supportive, nourishing, thoughtfully formulated, and enjoyable to drink consistently.

That was the beginning of Made To Lactate.

On 3 August 2021, Made To Lactate officially became a registered company, but in truth, it was built long before that through tears, late night pumping sessions, determination, and the deep desire to help other mothers feel supported in a season that can feel incredibly overwhelming.

I began developing our lactation lattes with one goal in mind: to create products that genuinely support breastfeeding mothers while also making them feel seen, comforted, and cared for.

Fast forward to June 2024, when we welcomed our baby girl into the world.

This pregnancy came with its own challenges, including hyperemesis gravidarum and gestational diabetes, but this time my husband was by my side through it all. Even though my second breastfeeding journey looked very different, it still came with its own struggles.

Our daughter had difficulty latching after birth, and for two weeks I syringe fed expressed colostrum and breastmilk while expressing every few hours to protect my supply. There were moments of exhaustion and fear all over again, but this time I also carried knowledge, experience, and confidence from everything I had learned. Most importantly I had the best lactation products to help me. 

After days of consistency, support, determination, and a latte in my hand twice a day, we finally achieved a deep, comfortable latch, and we have continued breastfeeding successfully ever since it’s been almost two years. 

Those experiences shaped not only who I am as a mother, but also the heart behind Made To Lactate.

Today, Made To Lactate is so much more than a lactation/breastfeeding brand. It is a community built by a mother who understands how vulnerable, emotional, beautiful, and difficult breastfeeding can sometimes be.

Every product we create is designed with intention. Our products are expertly formulated to support mothers through breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, nourishment, and the physical demands that motherhood places on the body. But beyond the products themselves, my greatest passion is creating a space where mothers feel safe, supported, educated, and never judged.

One thing I always remind mothers is this: breastfeeding is not about perfection.

Breastfeeding is a journey of learning both for mother and baby. Some journeys begin easily, while others require support, patience, and time. There is no shame in needing help. There is no shame in struggling. You are not failing if things do not come naturally straight away.

Milk removal is one of the biggest drivers of milk supply, whether through breastfeeding, expressing, or both. Consistency matters. Support matters. Nourishment matters. And most importantly, you matter too, Mama.

Mental health matters deeply to me as well because I know firsthand how isolating postpartum depression can feel. I want mothers to know that asking for help is never weakness. You deserve support just as much as your baby does.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of speaking to thousands of mothers through messages, consultations, reviews, and shared experiences. So many of us carry similar stories, fears, struggles, hopes, and emotions, and that is exactly why community matters.

Made To Lactate was created so mothers would never have to walk this journey alone.

If you are here, I hope you know this already:

You are doing better than you think you are.

Thank you for being here and allowing us to be part of your motherhood journey.

With love,

Sjanelle Bottger

Founder & Director of Made To Lactate